Display rack



Jan. 19, 1960 L.. F. MCLENNON A 2,921,826

DISPLAY RACK Filed Sept. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fbg. .2

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Jan. 19, 1960 Filed Sept. 14, 1955 L. F. MCLENNON 2,921,826

DISPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mi #W5 United States Patefif' C 1,921,826.nrsrrarnaek Leo F; `Mcliemon; Chicago, Ill. Appli-ationseptember14,1955; No.- ss4,19'1 sclaims. (13.312445) This inventionrelatesgenerally to a display rack construction. The instant displayrack has been particularly constructed for use Vwith a composite basecarrying` a card rack and having display shelving between the-base andcard rack.

Today retailers all over the c ountry are engaging 1n the highlyprofitable business of selling greeting cards. The racks presently usedto display these cards require a very considerable amount' of expensivestore space.

Many retailers also are engaged in selling gift wrapping materials.These gift wrapping materials are alsospace consuming and heretoforehave required separate display accommodations,V t

The present invention concerns itself with the prov1- sion of anintermediate display shelving sandwiched between the base and card racknow most commonly employed to the end of greatly reducing the overallspace required for displaying the aforementioned merchandise and in sodoing, utilizing space formerly completely Wasted.

From a merchandisers standpoint the instantdisplay rack construction ishighly advantageous since it greatly promotes tie-in salesV of greetingcards andy gift wrapping materials.

Accordingly it is anl object of this invention to provide a highlysimple display rackconstruction for displaying both greeting cards andgift wrappingmaterials.

Still another object of this inventionY is to provide a display rackconstruction which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and whichgreatly reduces the amount of oor space presently used to display thesame merchandise.

A further object of this invention isfto provide a display rackconstruction which greatly promotes tie-in sales of merchandise. y

According to the general features of this invention there is provided ina composite display structure including a base and a display rackvcarried thereon, intermediate display shelving sandwiched between thebase and rack including a relatively narrow shelf supported over thebase forwardly of the rack and an upwardly and rearwardly inclinedsupport for rolls of merchandise extending under the rack having anouter forward edge below and spaced fromV the rear edge of the shelf toa distance less than the diameter of the merchandise rolls so that therolls can gravitate-downwa'rdly on said support into an exposed positionof rest on the spaced edges ofv the shelf and support outwardly ofthe'rack butl over the forward portion-of the base;

Another feature of this invention relates to the provsion of anintermediately located inclined feederl shelf having adjustable dividersfor' accommodating various widths of rolls of merchandise.

Other objects and features of vthis invention will tore fully appearfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which .illustrate a single embodiment thereof andin which:

2,921,826 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 .ICC

Figurel is a front elevation of my novel display rack embodying featuresof this invention;

Figure 2yis aV sideelevation of the display rack shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevation of the intermediatedisplay shelving embodying features of the present invention;

VFigure 4 is aplan view of the intermediate section shovvnin Figure 3;and

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section showing the detail of anotched strip for accommodating stock spacing wires.

A s shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally my no vel display rackconstruction which includes a base section 11 having a plurality ofdrawers 12 positioned below a longitudinally extending rearwardlyinclined surface 13 positioned along the upper vertical edge of thesection 11. This inclined surface 13 is especially adapted to havesuitably mounted thereon indicia 14 for identifying the' variousmerchandise carriedupon shelves as will hereinafter become apparent.

Positioned on top of the base section 13 is my novel detachableintermediate section 1S which is most advantageously constructed so asto be capable of having mounted thereon a detachable card rack 16. Thiscard rack 1 6 maybe of the type shown in the I. C. Hall Patent No.2,067,051 which `is especially adapted to highlight and display greetingcards.

Any suitable materials'may be utilized in building m`y rack 10l withexcellent results being attainable through the use of wood.

My invention is particularly concerned with the construction andoperation of the intermediate section 15 which is sandwiched between thebase 11 and rack 16 in the illustrated embodiment.

vThe intermediate section 15 includes two side walls 17 and 18 joinedtogether by a rear panel 19. Each of the side walls 17 and 18 has areduced forward portion (Figs. 1 and 2) defined by a flat edge 20connected to' an arcuate edge 21 leading to a vertically upper edge 22.

Insertable within the yhousing defined by side walls 17 and 18 and rearpanel 17 are three identical space dividers and shelf supporters 23.Each of these dividers has a suitable number of slots 24 which arepreferably spaced and staggered vertically rearwardly with the lowermostslot extending forwardly of all of the vertically upper slots; the samebeing true for each of the suceeding slots (Figure 5). v

Each of the' dividers 23 Vis of a relatively narrow cross section andincludes aat bottom 25(Fig. 5) which is adapted to rest upon cabinet top26; and a relatively at rear wall 27 which is' adapted to bottom againstrear panel 19 (FigJS).

The dividers 23 have a vertically upwardly offset edge 28 coplanar'withedges 2G which are adapted to provide a rest for a transparent member orshelf 29 which may be constructed of a suitable material such as glassor the like. VOffset edge 29 is connected to a vertically downwardlyangled edge 30 which is in turn connected-tb a rearwardly upwardlyinclined edge or surface 31 adapted to carry an inclined shelf 32 whichmay be secured to the edges 31 in any suitable manner.

Slidably disposed in the slots 24 between the dividers 23 are a seriesof staggered shelves 33.

In Vassembly the dividers 23 may be assembled with upwardly staggeredshelves or racks 33 and fastendedtogether by any suitable means such asglue or nails. Thereafter, the divider and shelf assembly may be slidwithin the housing dened by the side walls 17 and 18 j@ 1,921,836 Y Y.

suitable manner as previously set forth.

In Figures 3-5 it will beenoted thatV rear panel 19 isY notched Yat Y34along therlength of Asarne at predetermined intervals. Similarly, ,theVforward end of shelf 32 vhas a plurality of longitudinally spacedopenings' Y3,5fextending a portion fof 'the way through? the shelfl 32with Veach vof the openings 35 being in alignment with the Irearwardlydisposed notch 34. Guide `rails or wires` 36 each have a hooked end 37and an extended'rearward terminal portion -378 Yon the opposite end` andeach maybepositionedV in the opening 35 and 'notch 34, respectively inassembly. Theseguide wires Y36 maybe placed i'n Vany suitable positionin/orderto accommodate variable sized ribbon rolls 39'as is shown in thedrawings'. l

Y In operation, the guide wires `36 are placed in predef terminedlongitudinally L spaced positions and` variable sized rolls may bestackedV uponthe'inclined shelf 32 Ibetwee'n'the wires 36. Forward edge40 of shelf 32 is positioned vertically below glass eidge41 andris `of a'predetermined smaller distance apart than the diameter of the rolls.When a series of rolls 39 are positioned along the inclined'planebetween the guide wires 736 the lowermost roll is readily viewed by theprospective b uyer as it is supported between edgesY `40 and 41. Y It isin this manner that the ribbons are constantly in proper position sinceasone roll ofribbons removed'another'will immediately gravitate' intoposition between -the previously mentioned edges. f Y Y' Y Y As aprospective card purchaser views the greeting cards carried by the cardrack 16, his vattention willbecome diverted to the rolls of ribbon 39carried slightly ward edge, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined supportfor rolls of merchandisefbeing disposed generally rearwardly of saidshelf, said rearwardly inclined support having an outer forwardedgebelow and spaced from said rearward edge of said shelf to a distanceless than the diameter of the merchandise rolls so that the rolls maygravitate downwardly. on said support into Van exposed position ofrestbetween'said rearward edge of the shelf v and saidouter forwardedge, saidshelf being transparent,

and at least one A horizontallyY disposed second shelf mounted below andstaggered forwardlyof said outer support edge, said secondrshelf locatedbelowY said transparent shelf for carrying merchandise below Ysaidtrans# parent shelf and which merchandise may be viewed from above thetransparent shelf.

-2. A roll display and shelving structure including a relatively narrowgenerally horizontally disposed first shelf for supporting packages andthe like having a rearward e edge,'an upwardly andrrearw'ardl'y inclinedsupport for to the rear of the vglass shelf 29 and to packages of wrapvping paper and other like 'merchandise 42 carried upon cabinet top 26,and shelves 33 respectively, which are all in staggered relation to oneauother. The prospective purchaser may rest his or her'packages andpurse upon v the glassy shelf or counter while viewing` through theYglass a considerable variety of merchandise 42 (Fig; 3,) which vmay beremoved from lthe forward end of the frack 10 for closer scrutiny andpurchase. It will beappreciated Vthe glass shelf additionally serves tokeep the merchandise clean. f

The merchandise 42above mentioned niay comprise rolls, iovaleoratpackages of gift Vdressings of variable lengths, for example, a rolledpackage of wrapping'paper 30 long. This'is highly advantageous sinceVthe presently known displaying facilities do not accommodate rolls ofsuch length. Y

. The instant rack construction 10 greatly increases the number oftie-in *salesV since a prospective buyerglooking for one type ofmerchandise such vas a greeting card' will be'reminded that he may alsoneed some other related item such'as wrappings and ribbon for a gift. I

Another advantage of the instant construction is=that formerly wastedspace may :be utilizedto Vdisplay lgoods' since separate displayr'acksjv are no longer needed for greeting cards, ribbons and wrappings..'Stll'further the space contained in cavity 43 (Fig. 5)V define/d bythe walls of the card rack may be utilized vsince the Yrolls ofmerchandise may extendl therein when resting upon inclined support 32thereby utilizing formerly wasted space for storing merchandise rolls.

It will be understood that modifications and variations I may =beeffected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention, but it understood that this Vapplication is tobelimited only by the scope of the appended claims. Y i K s g l VI claimas my invention:V Y Y 1. A roll display and shelving structureincludingV a relatively narrow generally horizontally disposed v `rstshelf for supporting packages and theY like having a rearrolls ofmerchandise ,being disposed generally rearwardly of said shelf,saidrearwardly inclined support having an outer forward edge below andspaced. from said rear-v ward edge of said shelf to a distance less thantherdiameter of the merchandise rolls so that the rolls may gravitateforwardly of said outer support edge, said second shelf locatedbelow'said transparentl shelf for carrying 'merchandise below saidtransparent shelf, and a third shelf mountedbelow said'second shelf andstaggered forwardly of said second shelf, said second and third shelvesadapted to carry merchandise which'may be viewed-from above saidtransparent shelf. Y Y

3. A roll display and shelving structure including a relatively narrowgenerally horizontally disposed rst shelf for supporting packages andthe like having a rearward edge, an upwardly and rearwardly inclinedsupport for rollsV of merchandise being disposed generallyrearwardly ofsaid shelf, said rearwardly inclined support having an outer forwardedge below and spaced from said 'rearward edge of said shelf to adistance lessthan the diameter of the merchandise rolls so Ythat the'frolls maygravitate downwardly'on said support into an exposed positionof rest between said rearward edge of the shelf and said outer forwardedge, a plurality of guide rails extending rearwardly onsaid'support'with a hooked forward end, a plurality of openingsv in theforward portion ofthe support anda plurality of notches in the rearwardportion of the support for supportingly and adjustably receivingsaidrails, said first shelf being transparent, and at least one horizontallydisposed second shelf mounted below andv staggered forwardly of saidouter support edge,rsaid second shelf located below said transparentshelf for carrying merchandise below said transparent shelf so that itmay be viewed from above the transparent shelf,

References Cited inthe file of this patent n UNITED VSTATES PATENTS888,556 Germany I V sept. s, 1953

